Tips for Canadians moving to Miami

Many Canadians are drawn to Miami for obvious reasons, the sun and beaches. However, Miami is more than hot temperatures and sand. If you plan to live in Miami for a longer period of time, you should prepare properly for your relocation. This does not mean only hiring residential movers Miami, but it also includes doing the proper research. If you consider moving to Miami or if you need to, here are all the things you should know about life in Miami. These include the cost of living, entertainment options, housing, and groups where you can communicate with your fellow Canadians. Therefore, here are all the tips for Canadians moving to Miami.

Moving and Shipping Costs for Canadians relocating to Miami 

Since you need to move, you should organize your relocation. First, search for moving companies Sunny Isles Beach. Since this is an international move, make sure to gather all the necessary documents. In addition to this, your relocation will be expensive if you plan to move a substantial number of items. You should save at least a couple of thousands of dollars. For this reason, you should contact several moving companies, compare their quotes, and hire the best one. If you happen to forget something, you can always ship it to your new home. The shipping costs from Vancouver is more than $1,800. Therefore, make sure to prepare your moving budget. Do not forget to include the other costs which will be discussed later in the text. 

Housing costs 

Miami is expensive. In comparison, Toronto is almost 36% cheaper. For this reason, many young people are renting instead of buying a house in Miami since prices are high. Here is the price breakdown. 

If you plan to rent, here are the monthly prices: 

• One-bedroom apartment in the city center – more than $1,300 
• Three-bedroom apartment in the city center – more than $2,000 
• One-bedroom apartment outside of the center – more than $1,000 
• Three-bedroom apartment outside the center – more than $1,650 

However, if you plan to buy, the price per square meter in the city center is more than $5,158 while outside the center is $2,113. If this is still expensive for you, you can share an apartment or a house. Lastly, the most affordable places are Brownsville, Liberty City, Gladeview, Pinewood Park, West Little River, and many more. 

Food, restaurants, and other costs in Miami 

Since Miami is very culturally diverse, there are various restaurants for newcomers serving food all around the globe. Most foreigners love to visit restaurants to socialize. If you plan to do the same, expect to pay between $12 to $25. A takeout coffee is between $2.75 to $4.50. In addition to this, one liter of milk around $1, a loaf of bread and 12 eggs are around $3, 1kg of chicken is between $4 – $16, and 1kg of beef is around $8 – $19. If you again prepare Toronto with Miami, restaurants are 27% cheaper in Toronto as well as groceries for almost 26%. However, you do not have to spend an enormous amount of money on groceries. Take a walk around your neighborhood, compare markets, and save money on groceries. In addition to this, many restaurants offer specials on some days so make sure to use them. 

Other expenses that Canadians moving to Miami can expect 

Miami has a decent transportation system where you can use trains, trolleys, and buses. Additionally, cycling is quite popular in Miami so you can get a bike for yourself. Next, the Internet costs are almost the same compared to the rest of the world. You can find decent offers for $19.99 per month. The next important costs are those of clothing, personal items, gym, and leisure. Since it is always sunny, many people go to the gym so they can show off their hard work at the beach. The gym is between $20 to $75 per month. There are major store clothing chain stores in Miami so the prices are the same. Cinema tickets are $15 while you will have to find out the price on your own for the other leisure activities. If you plan to drive, you need to get an American license after 30 days. 

Even more important information when relocating to Miami 

Since your family will probably come to visit, one-way fare from Toronto to Miami is around $96. However, most of the time, you will live in Miami without your extended family, so you should meet new friends to help you ease in your new life. If you are moving alone, you can find your fellow Canadians in Miami through sites such as Internations and Meetup. In addition to this, if you are moving with children, then, you should find a house in North Beach. Many families live in this quiet neighborhood. There are also countless family activities to do in Miami. This way you can spend quality time with your children and explore your new city. Lastly, if you are moving to find work, the service industry employs the most people. The other job opportunities are in education, retail and logistics, healthcare, construction, and multinational companies. 

What to expect from a life in Miami 

As mentioned, Miami is very culturally diverse. Therefore, you can try any food that you want. In addition to this, you can use your Spanish skills. Miami is almost a bilingual city since Spanish is the second most spoken language after English. Apart from this, when Canadians move to Miami, the weather can be a challenge for them. Prepare yourself for heat, humidity, and flooding. Even though it is hot in Miami, it is cold indoors due to the AC. Therefore, you will need another layer when visiting museums, restaurants, movie theaters, and similar places. Do not forget about bugs, snakes, alligators, and spiders. Make sure your new home is free from these visitors. Lastly, traffic in Miami can be awful. Miami’s residents have this laid-back attitude which means they are usually late to every appointment.